Distribution limited CC-81/CONF. 008/2 Rev.
Paris, 30 September 1981
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
World Heritage Committee
First Extraordinary Session
Paris, 10 and 11 September 1981
REPORT OF THE RAPPORTEUR
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The first extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee
was held at Unesco Headquarters in Paris on 10 and 11 September 1981,
at the request of seventeen States members of the Committee which
also requested that the meeting deal with two items : the election
of two Vice-Chairmen to the Bureau and the inscription of "the Old
City of Jerusalem and its Walls" on the World Heritage List.
2. The meeting was attended by the following States members of the
World Heritage Committee : Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Cyprus, Egypt, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Guinea, Iraq,
Italy, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal,
Switzerland, Tunisia, United States of America and Zaire. Representatives
of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
attended the meeting in an advisory capacity. Observers from sixteen
States Parties to the Convention not members of the Committee also
attended the session, as well as observers from six international
organizations, invited in accordance with the decision of the Committee.
The full list of participants is to be found in Annex I to this report.
II. OPENING OF THE SESSION AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
3. In opening the meeting, the Assistant Director-General for
Culture and Communication recalled the decision taken by the
Committee at its fourth session (September 1980) to open the
established procedure for the examination of the proposal by Jordan
for the inscription of "the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls" on
the World Heritage List and mentioned resolution 21 C/4/I4 adopted
by the Unesco General Conference at its 21st session referring to this
question. He also drew attention to the comments formulated by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites and to the record of the
*[2]
proceedings of the fifth session of the Bureau. The Assistant Director-
General informed the Committee that Mr. Parent, who had been elected
Chairman at the fourth session of the Committee, felt that because he had
recently been elected President of ICOMOS he could no longer continue to
chair the Committee and that, according to Rule 14.2 of the Rules of
Procedure, he was to be replaced by a Vice-Chairman, in the English
alphabetical order of States members of the Committee, for the remainder
of the term of office. The Ambassador of Australia, Mr. R. Slatyer, was
accordingly invited to act as Chairman until the beginning of the fifth
ordinary session of the Committee and to take the chair, which he
proceeded to do.
4. On the proposal of the Chairman, the Committee adopted the agenda
of the session.
III. ELECTION OF TWO VICE-CHAIRMAN
5. The Chairman explained that two Vice-Chairmen were to be elected
to replace Ghana and Yugoslavia which, in accordance with Rule 12.1 of
the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, had not been able to remain in
office after the end of the 21st session of the General Conference. The
Committee elected by acclamation Bulgaria and Senegal as Vice-Chairmen.
IV. NOMINATION OF THE "OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM AND ITS WALLS" FOR
INSCRIPTION ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
6. The examination of this question was taken up following the
resolution adopted by consensus by the World Heritage Committee
at its fourth session held in Paris from 1 to 5 September 1980, and of
the report of the Bureau of the Committee which, during its fifth session
held at Unesco Headquarters from 4 to 7 May 1981, had examined the
proposal to inscribe the "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls", presented
by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as the report of ICOMOS which
recommends the inclusion of this property on the World Heritage List.
7. The Chairman informed the Committee that Israel had requested that
a representative of Israel be invited to take part in the deliber-
ations of the Committee concerning the request by the government of Jordan
that the "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" be inscribed on the World
Heritage List. The Delegate of the United States of America, recalling
the terms of Article 11(3) of the Convention, requested that Israel, as
the State responsible for the administration and de facto control of the
Old City of Jerusalem, be given the right to speak at the appropriate
time. The Chairman referred to Rules 6, 7 and 8 of the Rules of Procedure
and concluded that Israel could not be invited to participate in the
session, since it was not a State Party to the Convention.
8. The Chairman of the Committee informed States members of the terms
of the letter addressed to him by the Permanent Delegate of Jordan to
Unesco (see Annex II) by which he communicated in the form of an addendum
to Annex III of file No. 148 Rev. the list of the buildings which ICOMOS
had recommended adding (see Annex III).
*[3]
9. The representative of Jordan presented the nomination with the
following statement :
"Jordan as a member of UNESCO and as a State Party to the
Convention for the protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage, presented in September last year its
nomination for the inscription of "The Old City of Jerusalem
and its Walls" on the World Heritage List.
The value that Jerusalem represents for the three religions
of Judaism, Christianity and Islam was the only possible
explanation for the unanimous decision of your Committee in
its 4th session of September 1980 to take 'info consideration
the nomination presented by the H. K. of Jordan concerning
the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls in all its cultural
and human aspects'.
The Committee was in full agreement in appreciating their
unique importance in view of the universal values they
represent from the religious, historical, architectural
and artistic points of view.
The Committee decided to open the established procedure for
the examination of this proposal for the inscription of the
Old City and its Walls on the World Heritage List.
In the same spirit the General Conference of UNESCO in its
21st session adopted a resolution 4/14 in which it recommends
to your very Committee 'to speed up the procedure for
including the City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List'.
Since the decision of your Committee in its 4th session,
Jordanian specialists have been able to complete the
technical file on the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls,
which was presented to the Secretariat on December 16, 1980.
This file was later studied by ICOMOS, which in turn in its
document No. 148 recommended to the Bureau of this Committee
to accept the Jordanian nomination.
Mr Chairman,
The reason why this extraordinary session of your Committee
is held is the attempt of some colleague members of the
Bureau to go back on the decision taken unanimously by your
Committee at its 4th session. Despite this decision, despite
the recommendation of the General Conference and despite even
the recommendation for inscription made by the ICOMOS, those
colleagues instead of studying the technical aspects of the
nomination, as were expected to do, chose to deal with
irrelevant complicated questions, that are neither within
the competence of the Bureau nor of the Committee.
Jordan agreed during the discussions of the Bureau to all
additions made by ICOMOS. Our letters addressed to the
Chairman of your Committee and the Director-General of
UNESCO and the Secretariat show clearly Jordan's adherence
to the Recommendation concerning the safeguarding and
contemporary role of historic areas.
*[4]
"It has been always our understanding that the Old City of
Jerusalem constitutes an historic ensemble which should be
considered in its totality as a coherent whole. The list
of monuments attached to the application is meant to be
indicative of the richness of the city and not exhaustive.
I ask you to consider this nomination in the spirit of the
unique value of Jerusalem. I ask you to stay within your
competence. Jordan is not using this Committee or your
deliberations as a vehicle for political claims. We realize
and you should realize that the status of Jerusalem cannot
be decided in your Committee. It is up to other inter-
national organs to decide on this very complicated issue.
I appeal to you for the sake of humanity and its heritage,
to stay within your competence, and accept the Jordanian
request for the inclusion of the Old City of Jerusalem and
its Walls on the World Heritage List. "
10. The representative of ICOMOS recalled that, at the meeting of
the Bureau in May 1981, that non-governmental organization had
recommended the inscription of the "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls"
on the World Heritage List. He took note of the favourable response
given by Jordan to their observations relating to the list of monuments
and stated that, with the supplementary list now added to the file,
there was no longer a lack of balance in the list of monuments set out
in Annex III of file No. 148 Rev. He confirmed that the description of
the property comprised the totality of the Old City and its Walls, and
included both the list of buildings submitted with the original nomin-
ation and the supplementary list.
11. The Committee registered this confirmation. It agreed that
the "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" constituted an historic
ensemble which should be considered in its totality as a coherent whole
whose balance and specific character depend on the synthesis of the
elements of which it is composed and where the preservation should be
carried out taking into account the manifestations of all the different
historical periods.
12. With respect to the adequate protection and preservation of
the site, ICOMOS considered that current practices ensured the
adequate protection of the "Old City of Jerusalem", and drew attention
to the participation of the international community in this regard.
The ICOMOS representative recalled finally that, in any case, the
procedures adopted by the Committee, in the case of proven inadequacy
or manifest deficiency in the matter of preservation, enabled the
Committee to decide that the inscription be cancelled. In conclusion,
he stated that ICOMOS was favourable to the inscription of the "Old
City of Jerusalem and its Walls" on the World Heritage List.
13. In the subsequent discussion, it became evident that there was
widespread support that a property as outstanding as the Old
City should be inscribed on the World Heritage List. The majority of
speakers had no reservations about Jordan's competence to make the
proposal. A few speakers expressed reservations about Jordan's legal
right to present the nomination and about the possible implications
*[5]
of inscription to questions related to the status of Jerusalem and to
questions of sovereignty and jurisdiction. Although it was recognized
that Article 11(3) of the Convention existed to cover these matters,
these speakers were concerned that there should be no implicit or
explicit recognition of the sovereignty of any State associated with
the inscription. The United States Delegation objected explicitly to
the nomination by Jordan as not conforming with the articles of the
Convention which provide that the nominating State submit only those
sites which are "situated in its territory", which require that the
consent of "the State concerned" be obtained and which require that the
nominating State provide an effective plan for the protection and
management of the site. This delegation asked other delegations to
join in rejecting an impermissible nomination.
14. At the end of the debate on file No. 148 Rev. presented by the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Committee decided to inscribe
the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the World Heritage List.
15. The above-mentioned decision was the subject of a vote by roll-
call, the result of which was as follows : 14 for, 1 against
and 5 abstentions. The representatives of nine States members of the
Committee explained their votes; their statements, in extenso or in
summarized form, are to be found in Annex IV. The observer from Chile
wished to address the meeting concerning the inscription of the Old
City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List; since the decision on
that question had already been taken by the Committee, his request was
not considered receivable and he was asked to transmit his statement in
writing to the Chairman who would ensure that it was added to the file.
16. In closing the extraordinary session, the Chairman reminded
members of the Committee of its forthcoming 5th ordinary session
in Sydney from 26 to 30 October 1981. He said that Australia was
looking forward to hosting the meeting and hoped that, to the greatest
possible extent, States Members of the Committee would endeavour to
include in their delegations experts in the cultural and natural
heritage.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANNEX I
ANNEXE I
CC-81/CONF.008/2 Rev.
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
CONVENTION CONCERNANT LA PROTECTION DU PATRIMOINE
MONDIAL, CULTUREL ET NATUREL
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE / COMITE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL
First extraordinary session/Première session extraordinaire
Paris 10-11 September 1981/Paris 10611 septembre 1981
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS/LISTE DES PARTICIPANTS
I. STATES MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE / ETATS MEMBRES DU COMITE
ARGENTINA/ARGENTINE
M. le Professeur Javier Fernandez
Ministre plénipotentiaire
Délégation permanente auprès de l'Unesco
AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIE
H. Exc. Professor R.O. Slatyer
Ambassador
Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mr. John Watson
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mrs. B. Barry de Longchamp
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
BRAZIL/BREZIL
S. Exc. M. Geraldo Holanda Cavalcanti
Ambassadeur
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
BULGARIA/BULGARIE
S. Exc. M. Milan Milanov
Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
*[ANNEX 1/2]
CYPRUS/CHYPRE
S. Exc. M. Constantin Leventis
Ambassadeur
Délegué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
M. Christos Cassimatis
Délegué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
EGYPT/EGYPTE
Mr. Abdel Moniem El Sawi
Ex-Minister of Information and Culture
H. Exc. Dr. Chams El-Dine El-Wakil
Ambassador
Permanent Delegate to Unesco
FRANCE
M. Michel Parent
Inspecteur général des monuments historiques
M. Jean-Pierre Bady
Directeur de la Caisse nationale des monuments
historiques et des sites
GERMANY (Fed. Rep. of)/ALLEMAGNE (Rep. fédérale d')
Dr. Wolfgang Tidten
Chargé d'affaires
Permanent Delegation to Unesco
Mr. Heimo Richter
Counsellor
Permanent Delegation to Unesco
GUINEA/GUINEE
S. Exc. M. Aboutacar Somparé
Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire de Guinée en France
M. Youssouf Diaré
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
IRAQ/IRAK
H. Exc. Dr. Aziz Ali Haidar
Ambassador
Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Dr. Mouyad Damerji Said
President, State Antiquities and Heritage Organization
*[ANNEX 1/3]
ITALY/ITALIE
S. Exc. M. Guglielmo Folchi
Ambassadeur
Delégué permanent Auprès de l'Unesco
JORDAN/JORDANIE
H. Exc. Mr. Taher N. Masri
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Jordan to France
Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mr. Ahmadd Al-Tawil
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Dr. Adnan Al Hadidi
Director-General of Antiquities, Amman
Mr. Rohi Al Khatib
Mayor of the Arab Sector of Jerusalem at present in exile (advisor)
LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA/JAMAHIRIYA ARABE LIBYENNE
Dr. Abdullah Shaiboub
Director-General, Department of Antiquities
Saray-al-Hamra
NEPAL
Mr. Narayan Das Shrestha
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
PAKISTAN
H. Exc. Mr. Sahabzada Yakub-Khan
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to France
Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mr. Abad Hussain
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mr. Aftab Hussain Syed
First Secretary
Permanent Delegation to Unesco
SENEGAL
M. Lamine Diakhaté
Ministre Conseiller
Délégué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
SWITZERLAND/SUISSE
S. Exc. M. Charles Hummel
Ambassadeur
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
*[ANNEX 1/4]
SWITZERLAND/SUISSE (Suite)
M. Ernest Martin
Architecte SIA/FAS
Commission fédérale des Monuments historiques, Genève
TUNISIA/TUNISIE
S. Exc. M. Mustata Masmoudi
Ambassadeur
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
M. Azedine Beschaouch
Directeur général de l'Institut d'Archéologie et d'Art
Tunis
Mlle Hayet Boussofara
Délégué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE
Mr. David Rowe
Director, Directorate for Unesco Affairs
Bureau of International Organization Affairs
Department of State, Washington
Mr. Elkin Taylor
Acting Permanent Delegate to Unesco
Mr. Howard Hardy
Cultural Attaché
Permanent Delegation to Unesco
ZAIRE
Mr. Makeli Boguo
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
II. OBSERVERS FROM OTHER STATES PARTIES/OBSERVATEURS D'AUTRES ETATS
PARTIES
AFGHANISTAN
Mr. Mir Hamidullah Nezam
Second Secretary
Embassy of Afghanistan
ALGERIA/AIGERIE
S. Exc. M. Abdelatif Rahal
Ambassadeur
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
CANADA
S. Exc. M. Pierre Trottier
Ambassadeur
Delegué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
*[ANNEX 1/5]
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE
M. Gaston Azibolo
Premier Secrétaire
Délégation permanente auprès de l'Unesco
CHILE/CHILI
S. Exc. M. Jorge Berguno Barnes
Ambassadeur
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
M. Dennis Biggs
Délégué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
CUBA
Mme Martha Arjona
Directeur du Patrimoine culturel
Ministère de la Culture, La Havane
DEMOCRATIC YEMEN/YEMEN DEMOCRATIQUE
Mr. Ali Kassem Abdulla
First Secretary
Embassy of the Democratic Yemen
DENMARK/DANEMARK
Mr. Jorgen V. Larsen
Délégué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
Mrs. Lisbeth Saaby
Head of Section
Ministry of Environment
National Agency for the Protection of Nature,
Monuments and Sites, Copenhagen
HONDURAS
Dr. Carlos Deambrosis-Martins
Ministre plénipotentiaire
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
INDIA/INDE
Miss B. Mukherjee
Second Secretary
Permanent Delegation to Unesco
IVORY COAST/COTE D'IVOIRE
M. Sylvestre Axa
Conseiller à la Délégation permanente auprès de l'Unesco
*[ANNEX 1/6]
MOROCCO/MAROC
M. Abdeslam Bensouda
Conseiller, Délégation permanente auprès de l'Unesco
NIGER
M. Souleymane Abarry
Délégué permanent adjoint auprès de l'Unesco
NORWAY/NORVEGE
Mr. Rolf Willy Hansen
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
SAUDI ARABIA/ARABIE SAOUDITE
Dr. Saleh Abdullah Bawazeer
Ministre plénipotentiaire
Délégué permanent auprès de l'Unesco
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA/REPUBLIQUE-UNIE DE TANZANIE
Mr. Donald Kusenha
Counsellor
Deputy Permanent Delegate to Unesco
III. ORGANIZATIONS ATTENDING IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY/ORGANISATION
PARTICIPANT AVEC UN STATUT CONSULTATIF
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON MONUMENTS AND SITES (ICOMOS)/CONSEIL INTER-
NATIONAL DES MONUMENTS ET DES SITES
M. François Leblanc
Directeur du Secrétariat
M. Léon Pressouyre
Professeur à l'Université de Paris I
IV. OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/AUTRES ORGANISATIONS
INTERNATIONALES
ARAB EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION/0RGANISATION
ARABE POUR L'EDUCATION LA CULTURE ET LA SCIENCE (ALESCO)
M. Ahmed Derradji
Représentant permanent auprès de l'Unesco
M. Ali Babacar Tahar
Directeur général adjoint, Tunis
*[ANNEX 1/7]
AFRICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE (ACI)/INSTITUT CULTUREL AFRICAIN
M. Eric Apronti
Directeur général adjoint, Dakar
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MUSEUMS (ICOM)/CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DES
MUSEES
M. Luis Monreal
Secrétaire général
Paris
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF WORKS OF ART/
ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE POUR LA PROTECTION DES OEUVRES D'ART
M. Adolphe Mocquot
Vice-Président
Auxerre
M. Max Schvoerer, Consultant
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS/UNION INTERNATTONALE DES ARCHITECTES
(UIA)
M. Henri Calsat
Architecte-urbaniste
Secrétaire du Groupe de travail "Aménagement urbain et rural"
ORGANIZATION FOR MUSEUMS MONUMENTS AND SITES IN AFRICA (OMMSA)/
ORGANISATION POUR LES MUSEES, LES MONUMENTS ET LES SITES D'AFRIQUE
Mr. Kwasi Myles
Secretary-General
Accra
*[ANNEX 1/8]
V. UNESCO SECRETARIAT / SECRETARIAT DE L'UNESCO
M. Makaminan Makagiansar
Sous-Directeur général
Secteur de la Culture et de la Communication
M. Michel Batisse
Sous-Directeur général adjoint
Secteur des Sciences
M. Gérard Bolla
Sous-Directeur général adjoint
Secteur de la Culture et de la Communication
M. Daniel de San
Chef
Division des Normes internationales
Bureau des Affaires juridiques
M. Bernd von Droste
Division des Sciences écologiques
Mme Anne Raidl
Division du patrimoine culturel
Mme Margaret van Vliet
Division du patrimoine culturel
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CC-81/CONF.008/2 Rev.
ANNEX II
Original : French
Permanent Delegation of the
Hachemite Kingdom of Jordan
to Unesco
Paris, 9 September 1981
The Chairman
World Heritage Committee
On the occasion of the extraordinary session of the
World Heritage Committee, to be held in Paris on 10 and 11 September
1981 to examine the nomination submitted by my country and registered
on 16 December 1980 under Identification nº 148 Rev., concerning
the inclusion of the "Old City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and its
Walls" on the World Heritage List, I have the honour to bring the
following to your attention.
At its meeting in May 1981, the Bureau of the
Committee, apprised of the favourable recommendation of ICOMOS,
took note of the agreement of my country to include in the list
of monuments contained in Annex III to the above-mentioned file,
the buildings whose addition had been recommended by ICOMOS. I
therefore have the honour to forward to you, in the attached
document, the information requested, drawing your attention to the
fact that my country has every confidence in the distinguished
representative of ICOMOS and endorses all the factual details
that, as a man of science and integrity, he may consider useful
to provide on this technical Annex to the file.
I should be grateful if you would inform the
members of the Committee of the terms of this letter at the
opening of the discussion, so that the debate may focus on
essentials.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest
consideration.
(Signed) TAHER MASRI
Permanent Delegage
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CC-81/CONF.008/2 Rev.
ANNEX III
United Nations Educational, Date received : 16.12.1980
Scientific and Cultural Identification Nº : 148 Rev.
Organization Original : French
Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Nomination submitted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Old City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and its Walls
Addendum to Annex III
*[ANNEX III/2]
Preliminary remark
It should be recalled that in a town like the old city
of Jerusalem, it is difficult to select a group of monuments, even
as a cross-section. Historical periods, significant monuments,
manifestations of civilization, art and culture and religious sites
are so closely interwoven that a partial inventory runs the risk
of appearing partisan.
The 220 monuments identified in the Medina of Jerusalem
do not therefore constitute an exhaustive or complete list.
As recommended by ICOMOS, the following six monuments
could be added :
1. The walls of the period of Herod the Great, today incorporated
in the perimeter of the Haram al-Sharif and of which the
Wailing Wall still remains, and the enormous vaulted substructures
now known as the Stables of Solomon.
2. The northern arcature of the portal of Aelia Capitolina,
known since the XVIth Century as the "Ecce Homo" Arch.
Nowadays incorporated in the choir of the basilica of
Our Lady of Zion, near the Second Station of the Via Dolorosa
(Way of the Cross), it is one of the rare vestiges of the triumphal
arches erected by Emperor Hadrian after the capture of Jerusalem
and the foundation of a Roman colony known as Aelia Capitolina.
3. The Ramban Synagogue, built in the Jewish quarter of the
Medina, towards the end of the XIVth Century, not far from
the Suq el-Hussor (Mat Market).
4. The Ben Zakkai Synagogue, built around 1606 to 1610 in the
same area and initially restricted to the principal Jewish
community of the town, the "Sephardim".
5. The Synagogue of Elijah the Prophet, built from 1615 to 1625,
with a large dome.
6. Lastly, still in the same area, the Stamboulli Synagogue, the
largest of all, built around 1740.
These synagogues have recently undergone major repairs
which have almost fully renovated them. Nevertheless, the historical
value of their site justifies their inclusion in the list.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANNEX IV
The statements made by nine States members of the World
Heritage Committee in explaining their votes concerning the inscription
of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls on the World Heritage List
are given below in full or in summarized form.
1. The following statement was made by the Australian Delegation :
"Thank you Mr. Chairman. The Australian Delegation fully
appreciates the great importance of the Old City of Jerusalem. We
believe that it is worthy of inclusion in the World Heritage List and
we had hoped that the circumstances would have permitted us to cast a
favourable vote on the decision just taken by the Committee.
Our abstention was made after careful consideration of the
issue in the context of the Articles of the Convention and in the light
of the political dispute which surrounds the Old City. Delegations will
be aware that Australia regards the status of Jerusalem as undetermined
and the question of sovereignty as unresolved and to be a matter which
should be resolved in the context of an overall settlement of the Middle
East question. We do not recognize any claims to sovereignty over Old
Jerusalem as a basis for action under the Convention.
We noted with appreciation the statement of the Jordanian
Delegate that Jordan seeks to gain no recognition of any claims of
sovereignty through this nomination. However, we believe that the
decision does not satisfy the concern that has been expressed by several
delegations as well as ourselves that the inclusion of the Old City on
the World Heritage List should have been accompanied by a declaration
stating that inscription carried no explicit or implicit endorsement
of any claim to sovereignty.
Mr. Chairman, we are also aware of the damage that undue
politicization of the issue could cause to the reputation and effectiveness
of the Committee and the Convention and we consider that the decision that
the Committee has just taken does not take sufficient account of this
problem. Thank you Mr. Chairman".
2. The representative of Cyprus made the following statement :
"Cyprus has voted in favour of the inscription of Jerusalem
on the World Heritage List because of the pre-eminent claims of that
City on religious and cultural grounds to feature on the List.
In casting our affirmative vote, we also register our
agreement with statements by the distinguished representative of the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and by other members of the Committee to
the effect that this inscription is in accordance with the objectives of
the World Heritage Convention and has no political implications."
*[ANNEX IV/2]
3. The representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt made the following
statement :
"The delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt voted in favour
of including the Old City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List in
application of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage and in affirmation of the fact that
Egypt considers the occupied city of Jerusalem to be Arab sovereign
territory".
4. The representative of France recalled that throughout the session
his delegation had sought a special solution whereby the Committee
would not find itself divided by considerations of a legal or political
nature. It had proposed a number of alternatives, believing that a
completely fresh formula might have the advantage of being acceptable
to all delegations. His abstention during the vote did not in any way signify
a lack of appreciation on the part of the French delegation of the universal
value of the site of Jerusalem from the historical, cultural and religious
points of view.
5. The representative of the Federal Republic of Germany stated that
he believed that it would have been possible to obtain the inclusion
of the Old City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List on the grounds
of its outstanding universal cultural value without attributing the
application to any individual State. He expressed the hope that the
problem of the legal status of Jerusalem, which, he stated, was as yet
regrettably unresolved, would soon be resolved.
6. The following statement was made by the representative of Italy :
"It was with the greatest regret, Mr. Chairman, that Italy
abstained during the vote on the inclusion of the Old City of Jerusalem
in the World Heritage List. I do not consider it necessary in this forum
to give proof of the respect, consideration and indeed affection in which
the Italian people hold this shrine of three great cultures and of three
great religions, including their own. This is why, although we did not
participate in the discussion, which was already exhaustive enough, we
spared no effort in trying to find a formula likely to receive general
approval. I remain convinced that this would not have been impossible. This
only serves to heighten our regret that the inscription of Jerusalem should
take place under conditions which, with a final effort of goodwill, could
have been avoided, since no-one contests the right of Jerusalem to appear
in any list of cultural property whose preservation merits a general
pooling of efforts".
7. The representative of Nepal made the following statement :
"While supporting the proposal of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan to nominate Jerusalem to the World Heritage List, Nepal has
expressed its support purely on cultural grounds. We are of the view
that Jerusalem as a site is undeniably of universal cultural heritage
value and should be included in the World Heritage List. But we would
like to put on record that inclusion in the List should in no way be
regarded as a means for registering the political or sovereignty claims
by any states associated with the inscription".
*[ANNEX IV/3]
8. The representative of Switzerland refereed to the exceptional cultural
and historical importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and stated
that he would have wished to vote in favour of its inscription in the
World Heritage List for these entirely objective reasons. In the form in
which it had been presented, however, the decision called for did not
take account of the specific legal aspects of the issue. He further stated
that "the Swiss Government is of the opinion that the Old City of
Jerusalem is situated neither on Jordanian nor on Israeli territory.
According to the partition plan drawn up by the United Nations in 1947,
the former mandated territory of Palestine was to become an independent
Palestinian Arab State, and a special status of corpus separatum was
envisaged for Jerusalem. In consequence, neither Israel nor Jordan are
entitled to claim sovereignty over the Old City of Jerusalem".
9. The representative of the United States of America made the
following statement :
"The U.S. delegation wishes to be associated with the remarks
of earlier speakers which emphasized the recognition of the universal
cultural and historical value of Jerusalem important to all mankind.
My delegation would like to reiterate that the U.S. position
on this issue does not reflect in any way on the high esteem the U.S.
delegation holds for the distinguished Jordanian delegation and the
close and collaborative relations between our two countries.
In the view of my delegation, the World Heritage Committee has
just taken a major step in the wrong direction. The approval of this
nomination is a failure to adhere to the articles and provisions of
the World Heritage Convention, specifically, those articles which
provide that the nominating state submit only those sites which are
"situated in its territory", which require that the consent of "the state
concerned" be obtained, and which require that the nominating state
provide an effective plan for the protection and management of the
site. This Committee has taken an impermissible action and now must
abide by the ensuing unfortunate consequences.
These consequences are the intrusion of an element of
politization to the World Heritage Committee. Politization may be
inevitable to a certain degree in any international institution, but
it is our task to attempt to limit, not expand, this problem. The
introduction of Middle East politics into this Committee cannot but be
to the detriment of the World Heritage Committee and its proud
achievements to date.
The U.S. delegation regrets the result of this extraordinary
session and asks that the record reveal our full disassociation from its
outcome".
*[EOF]